Celosia plant named ‘Bkcelmg’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘Bkcelmg’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers arranged on dense compound spikes; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELMG’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant,botanically known as Celosia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Bkcelmg’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have uniqueand attractive flowers, long flowering period and good gardenperformance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2006in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosiahybrida identified as code number 1400009, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Celosia hybridaidentified as code number 1401001, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Celosia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, TheNetherlands in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by cuttings in acontrolled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since November, 2007has shown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bkcelmg’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Bkcelmg’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Red purple-colored flowers arranged on dense compound spikes.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are narrower and darker        in color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Celosia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have bright pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are more compact than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are darker in color than        leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia‘Caracas’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newCelosia differed primarily from ‘Caracas’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia were darker in color than        leaves of plants of ‘Caracas’.    -   2. Plants of the new Celosia flowered earlier than plants of        ‘Caracas’.    -   3. Plants of the new Celosia and ‘Caracas’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Caracas’ had purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Bkcelmg’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Bkcelmg’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 11-cm containers during the earlyspring in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands andunder commercial practices. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 19° C. to 20° C. and night temperaturesaveraged 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 15 weeks old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia hybrida ‘Bkcelmg’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia            hybrida identified as code number 1400009, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia            hybrida identified as code number 1401001, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at 20° C. to            21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at 20° C.            to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at 20° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days            at 20° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically            grown as a potted plant; upright and compact plant habit;            broad inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about            seven lateral branches developing per plant; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 29.1 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 30.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15.8 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 9 mm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Between 68A and 70B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly ovate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Between 143B and            144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Between N137A and 147A;            distal half, tinged with close to 200A; venation, close to            60C to 60D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to            146B; distal half, tinged with close to 147A; venation,            close to 60C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 60D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single sessile rotate flowers            arranged in dense terminal compound spikes; flowers face            upright and outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 2280            flowers per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, slightly moldy.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten            weeks after planting; flowering continuous from early April            until the autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences last about ten days            on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.2 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower height.—About 6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 71C.        -   Petals.—None observed.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically eight. Length: About            6 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex:            Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 71C; color does not change            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 71C; color does not change with            development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 11.2 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Angle: Upright to about 30° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 63B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: Close to 3 mm. Filament color: Close            to 61A; towards the base, close to 61C to 61D. Anther            length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color:            Close to 71C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            156A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 4 mm.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 71C. Style            length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to 71C to 71D;            towards the base, close to 61C to 61D. Ovary color: Close to            71C to 71D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Celosia.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Celosia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Celosia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to    have good garden performance and have good tolerance to rain and    wind. Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to tolerate high    temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone    9.

1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘Bkcelmg’ as illustrated anddescribed.